I traded in my KLR yesterday and bought a DL1000. I love it and now my GS Dream is on hold indefinitely...... I have already taken the VSTROM off the pavement and was very surprised with its performance.

I had the SV-1000. Sold it to buy the DL-650. Just like every one says, "the 1000 has fun boost for a while, then I'll take the 650..." Just more ridable in most situations (around town & dirt roads). & yes other than open freeway.

The mighty machanical wounder, GS is a dream. Not always the best idea, but so much cool German stuff, ya know?

New Wee owner here although its still in a crate at the dealer untill april (too mutch snow to bring it home now).

2007 DL650 K7 Red Exactly like the one i sat on at the show were i bought it. I also got the suzuki luggage with mine though.

I too came from a cruiser though but im lucky enuff to still get to ride the cruiser on ocashion and have some one else clean it now LOL (gave it to my mother). I wanted a more touring friendly bike capable of takeing the dirt roads im always passing by. And i got tired of cleaning all the damn crome.

Seems like I read a lot of posts about how the Wee isn't so good on the freeway, and maybe I'm jaded 'cuase I'm coming off a KLR 650, but I think my Wee is great on the highway. Super smooth with plenty (for me) of boost to get past/out of trouble spots.

I just picked up this MINT/FLAWLESS '05 650 with 1,700 miles on it, and though it's not much to look at in its current trim, It'll be nice soon enough. I just ordered a set of Givi crash bars, a center stand, peg lowering kit and the MadStad bracket. I'm not sure whether or not to get a skid plate 'cause I'm a little put off by the rediculously high price of $200:eek1
I did manage to find another local Strom owner with a 1000 who traded seats with me (I'm 6' 5").

I'm trying not to DUMP too much money into this thing and just enjoy it for what it is instead.

As of the 5th March 2007 I will be the VERY proud owner of a Black DL1000 Grand Touring (that's the one with full luggage, centre stand, heated grips and hand guards for all those not in the UK). Cost is £6124 on the road with free delivery.

I'll need to take it easy to begin with to get her run in, but a tour of Norway, Sweden and Denmark is already being planned for July 2007.

As soon as I get the chance to take some photos, I will and get them posted on the site.

Today I was having a talk with a fellow advrider about the Versys and smaller displacement models in general. A DL650 conversation ensued and we felt that the majority of Vstrom owners on here are probably 650 owners v. 1000. Or at least that has been the impression. So in it is interesting reviewing the updated stats, and how the "collective" is populated I hope new members chiime in.

Got a 650 back in August. Just started posting on this forum in the past couple of weeks. This is my first motorcycle and I love it. Before I took the MSF course I was gung ho on getting a cruiser, but after the course and riding nighthawks decided that I wanted a standard bike for the seating position. I was either going to go to a used nighthawk 750, or the V-Strom. Glad I couldn't find a good nighthawk cause I love the Strom. However I do have a disease now where I keep buying stuff for the Strom and can't stop.

I spent one too many nice weekends in my shop with my beloved ''bikes of character'' while everyone else was out riding. I decided I needed one new (with warranty) ultra reliable, if characterless , low maintenance and very versatile bike to have as a daily rider to supplement the others . I'm not wealthy but bikes ''are'' a priority for me and could consider, within reason any bike I wanted. The only constraint I imposed on myself was to leave ''emotion'' out of it, realizing that it was emotion that had me in the shop wrenching on pretty, but high maintenance bikes on sunny days in the first place.
I needed a large displacement bike capable of long days at effortless high speeds, but also one that I could check out those great looking dirt or gravel roads on, that we see while traveling. Short list......although drawn to the more exotic adventure bikes, their reliability records (in some cases) ''combined'' with their higher costs put them out (remember no emotion!). The DL 1000 seemed like the only ''logical'' choice for my application, so I thought I'd give one a try and see if I could live with the lack of character that I decided Stroms had ? ........ In 8 months I've put more miles on the V-Strom than any single bike I've owned (that's a lot of bikes) and can't seem to pry myself off the thing, I'm even starting to think it's pretty ....and I'm not sleeping at home!

Some of the same thoughts that I had when buying the Strom. I to like the bikes with more character an have room in the garage for both. My last few bikes have been more on the practical side and I've found I put more miles on them to. There is somthing sexy about a utilitarian machine, the character comes from the adventures, not as much as the machine itself.

Seems I can't go anywhere without my 11 year old daughter waiting with her helmet

Click to expand...

A problem I'm hoping to have, shortly.
I took my gal out to the local suzi dealer yesterday and planted her on the back of a wee to get her sense of how it felt. Fit like a glove.

Next week I begin the course to get myself weaned from 50cc to something with more juice. Fortunately, I'm big enough that I can flat-foot off the back of the wee without a problem. Will confirm assimilation upon purchase, likely in May.

I was thinking of taking those cheap looking stickers off the side of the fairing on the strom. you think just heating them up is enuff ? I tried this a little and they seem pretty stuck, just tiny pieces coming off, no big deal, thought i'd ask. F.D.R.

I got real lucky and got a really clean, red K5 cheap. Everyone keeps asking if it is new. Came with handguards, heated grips, centerstand and crash bars. I doubt it if the bike ever seen a dusty road. Bought and serviced at the same place I bought it (guy was a commuter and traded it in for the 1000). I'm really please with it and appreciate all the info I got from this website. Bill